Egg-case.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903..

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6 w aj? M. B. GHAMBERLAIN. BGG CASE APPLICATION FILED HAY 1I 1903.

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iTED STATES Patented September 1, 1903. f

PATENT OFFICE.

EGG-CAS E.

PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,905, dated September 1, 1903. Application filed May l, 1903. Serial No. 155,211. (No model.)

.T (1J/Z when?, it may con/cern:

Beit known that I, MINORE. OHAMBERLAIN, of Lebanon, in the county of Laclede and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In Letters Patent No. 561,914, issued to me July 2S, 1806, I have shown and described a folding or knockdown egg-crate having a central partition and hinged sides and ends capable of being folded inward for return of the crate after removal oi' its contents.

The object of the present invention is to improve upon the crate above referred to by enhancing its durability and simplifying the assemblage of the parts, and this end I attain by the construction and relative arrangement of elements hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed ont in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the crate uncovered, with the central partition omitted and showing one of the sides removed. Fig. 2 is a loiigitudinal section showing the central partition and the cover in position. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the crate closed. Fig. 4 shows the catches for the cover. Fig. 5 is a transverse section online :c r1', Fig. 2. v

Referringto the drawings, l designates the crate, having its bottom 2 provided with side bars 3, end bars i, and a central transverse bar or cleat 5. The en d sections (l are hinged to bars 4 and are provided on their side edges with headed lugs 7, designed to iit in bayonet-slots S in vertical bars S), secured to the ends of the sides of the crate. The end sections are of less width than the end bars 4g to provide space for the bars 0 of the sides. These sides are removably held upon bars 3 by the described connections with the ends 6. Extending vertically of each of the sides is a central guide 12, preferably formed by bars 13, having an intermediate ln g or stop 14 at their lower ends. The central partition 15 is designed to be accommodated by guides 12 and is provided with a lower reduced portion lo, designed to rest on the transverse bar or cleat 5, to which it is secured by a catch 17,

the bottom edges of the widened or main body portion of the partition being in contact with lugs or stops 14.

The cover 18 is provided with depending sides and ends, the latter having catches 19 and 20, designed to engage headed lugs 21 on the ends 3 or similar lugs 22 near the bottom of the crate, according as the cover `is being used during shipment or return after removal of its contents. The catches are pivotally secured within recesses formed in the ends by pintles 23, passed through sleeves 24, preferably formed by bending the catch back upon itself. The catch 1S) consists of a strip of metal provided with a bayonet-slot 25, while catch 2O is provided with a circular aperture 26 and has a plate 27 pivotally secured to its outer face, the plate being provided with a bayonet-slot 2S and an ear or flange 29, by which it may be moved to bring the enlarged portion of its slot into register with the aperture in order to place the catch in engagement with lugs 21 or 22, after which the plate is moved to bring the narrow portion of its slot into engagement with the necks of the lugs.

In the use of the crate for shipment the ends are turned upright and the sides placed in engagement therewith. The central partition is then positioned and secured, after which the cover is added. When empty, the central partition is placed in the bottom and the ends folded inward. The sides are then placed on top of the ends, the illers added, and the cover secured to lugs 22, the depth of the cover allowing of its accommodating the parts. Y

The advantages of my invention are apparent. By the described construction the sides may be first positioned and the partition inserted by sliding it down within the grooves. Once the partition is locked its engagement with stops 14C aids in holding the sides in place. Further advantage resides in the construction of the top catches, permitting of their being readily secured and released.

I claim as my inventionl. The herein-described crate having pivoted end sections provided on their side edges with headed lugs, removable side sections having bayonet-slots designed to accommodate said lugs, said side sections having een TOO tral vertical guides and stops at the lower ends thereof, a'central partition designed to be accommodated by said guides and seated against said stops, said partition having a lower reduced portion, a catch for securing the latter to the bottom of the crate, and a cover for such crate.

2. The herein-described crate having a bottom provided with side and end bars and a central transverse cleat, end sections pivoted to said end bars and terminating within the latter and having headed lugs on their side edges, removable side sections having end bars provided with bayonet-slots to accommodate said lugs, and having central vertical guides and stops at the lower ends thereof, a central partition designed to be accommodated by said guides and seated against said stops, said partition having a lower reduced portion designed to rest on said central tran sverse cleat, a catch for securing said parti tion to said cleat, and a cover for the crate.

3. In a crate having a bottom section, pivoted ends, removable sides and a central partition, a top or cover having pivoted catches designed to engage lugs on such pivoted ends or bottom section according 'as the crate is open or closed, one of such catches having a bayonet-slo`t, and the other having a circular MINOR E. CI-IAMBERLAIN.

Vitnesses:

GEO. CHAMBERLAIN, E. W. ORMoND. 

